Partial class divider assembly for an aircraft

Abstract

A partially movable divider assembly primarily designed for mounting to an overhead structure, such as a passenger service unit rail or ceiling, in the cabin interior of an aircraft, to provide a privacy barrier between two seating sections of different classes. An upper stationary panel is fixedly mounted to the overhead structure and a lower movablle panel is hingedly attached along a bottom edge of the upper panel to permit swinging movement of the lower panel relative to the upper panel in response to a force applied to the lower panel. A biasing element and dampening structure urge the lower panel into a normal vertical position in coplanar relation to the upper panel, while reducing excessive swinging movement thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bulkhead assembly adapted to be mounted to an overhead structure of an aircraft so as to define a boundary and provide privacy between seating sections of different classes, said assembly comprising: an upper stationary panel fixedly mounted to the overhead structure and extending transversely substantially along the width of a row of adjacently positioned seats,   a lower movable panel hingedly mounted along a bottom edge of said upper stationary panel in substantially coplanar relation thereto and swingably movable from a substantially vertical, coplanar position to either a forward angled position or a rearward angled position relative to said upper stationary panel and said row of adjacently positioned seats upon applying external force thereto,   hinge means for hingedly connecting said lower movable panel to said upper stationary panel,   biasing means structured and disposed to urge said lower movable panel into said vertical, coplanar position,   dampening means for reducing excessive swinging, oscillating movement between said forward angled position and said rearward angled position, and   mounting means for mounting said upper stationary panel to the overhead structure of the aircraft.   
     
     
       2. An assembly as in claim 1 wherein said upper stationary panel is specifically shaped and configured so as to conform with a configuration of adjacently positioned structure within an interior cabin of the aircraft. 
     
     
       3. An assembly as in claim 2 wherein said hinge means includes a plurality of piano hinges each including a top plate, an intermediate plate, and a bottom plate Wherein said top plate is attachable to a bottom edge of said upper stationary panel and said bottom plate is attachable to a top edge of said lower movable panel. 
     
     
       4. An assembly as in claim 3 wherein said dampening means includes a plurality of substantially thin metal plates disposed in a stacked orientation and fitted within opposing upper and lower slots formed on an inboard edge of said upper and lower panels respectively. 
     
     
       5. An assembly as in claim 4 wherein said plurality of plates extend between said upper panel and said lower panel and are adapted to flex and slide relative to one another upon movement of said lower panel into either said forward angled position or said rearward angled position. 
     
     
       6. An assembly as in claim 5 wherein said plurality of plates are adapted to absorb a biasing force exerted by said biasing means on said lower panel so as to prevent excessive oscillating movement thereof once the external force, is removed. 
     
     
       7. An assembly as in claim 6 wherein said biasing means includes a plurality of spring assemblies each fitted within a respective one of a plurality of chambers extending through said upper panel and into said lower panel at spaced intervals along a length thereof. 
     
     
       8. An assembly as in claim 7 wherein each of said plurality of chambers include an upper bore extending vertically through said upper panel between a top edge and said bottom edge thereof and including a metal cylindrical sleeve fitted therethrough, and a lower bore extending through said top edge of said lower panel and disposed in co-axial relation to said upper bore, said lower bore including means therein for securing a bottom end of each said spring assembly therein.